"Dogmatics is one of the traditional disciplines of Christian theology. Its special task is the critical interpretation of the doctrines of the church's faith in light of our knowledge of Christian origins and the challenge of the contemporary situation. ...

"As the title of our work makes clear, we believe it inadvisable to surrender the use of the term 'dogmatics.' We would emphasize that there is a doctrinal core of the faith of the church. ... If theologians are writing dogmatics, odd as it may sound in the current theological situation, there can be no doubt that their calling is a service performed within the church and for the church."